WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)-Sen. Mitch McConnell, recovering in the hospital, reached out to conservative commentator Scott Jennings for a wide-ranging 17-minute phone conversation, sounding strong and engaged with current events, Jennings said Tuesday.

McConnell “sounded like he was keeping up with the news,” Jennings reported. The Kentucky Republican, who has been hospitalized, told Jennings he was feeling well enough to place calls, including to Senate colleagues John Barrasso and John Thune.

The two discussed the situation with Iran, developments in Ukraine and Europe, and touched on American political history. Jennings mentioned a recent visit to the Teddy Roosevelt Library, leading to a conversation about the history of the vice presidency, how Roosevelt transformed the office and the modern presidency, as well as Senate history.

“He said he was feeling OK, well enough to call me and talk to Barrasso and Thune,” Jennings said. “We talked for about 17 minutes. We talked a lot about the situation with Iran, talked a little bit about Ukraine and what’s going on in Europe. … It was a wide-ranging conversation.”

McConnell, the former Senate Republican leader, has faced health challenges in recent years, including episodes of freezing during public appearances that prompted him to step down from leadership. His office has not immediately commented on the hospitalization or the conversation.

The update comes amid ongoing Republican discussions in the Senate following leadership transitions and amid international developments involving Iran. Jennings, a CNN contributor and longtime McConnell ally, shared the details of the call publicly.